Three rescued from drainage tube at U.S.-Mexico border near California

San Diego, California – Three individuals attempting to illegally cross into the United States were rescued from a drainage tube early Friday morning near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, according to Cal Fire and U.S. Border Patrol officials.

The call came in around 7:45 a.m., prompting a multi-agency response involving Cal Fire San Diego, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), San Diego Fire-Rescue, and Chula Vista Fire crews. Authorities located the individuals in a drainage tube in an area known as Tin Can Canyon, just east of the border crossing.

According to Cal Fire Captain Mike Cornette, the trio was surrounded by piles of razor wire and located behind a section of barbed wire that had obstructed their exit from the tube. Firefighters began cutting through the wire to reach the individuals.

Despite initial reports suggesting they were trapped, a CBP spokesperson clarified the three were not physically stuck but had refused to exit the tube voluntarily. “Out of an abundance of caution, agents requested assistance from the San Diego Fire Department,” said Border Patrol spokesperson Michael Scappechio. “The fire department assessed the situation and determined medical assistance was not required.”

By 9:30 a.m., Border Patrol removed the individuals from the tube without injury and took them into custody at a nearby station for processing and potential removal. Their ages, genders, and nationalities have not been disclosed.

CBP is now leading the investigation into the incident. In a formal statement, the agency noted the individuals had “illegally entered the U.S. through drainage tubes east of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.”

Captain Cornette emphasized the dangers of attempting to cross the border through confined underground spaces. “We recommend not to go into those tubes or confined spaces without proper monitoring equipment because it could be potentially dangerous if there’s a concentration of gases in there,” he said.